Often in the news, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been at the vortex of complex Middle Eastern tensions for many years. Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979. Although a cease-fire agreement with Iraq went into effect in mid-1988, Iran and its economy have been effected by the more than eight years of conflict that proceeded the agreement. The area surrounding Iran remains unstable. However, many of Iran's concerns stem from issues over the pace of modernization and demands for governmental reform.Full-Color Photographs, Maps, Index, Glossary, Timeline, Table of Contents, Bibliography, Further Reading List, Recipes, Famous People, Sights to See, Flag, National Anthem, Currency, Fun Facts, Websites, Companion Website at www.vgsbooks.com, 80 Pages,7 x 10.